1998 Lexus GS400 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS ON AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE DRIVER LIFTED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A TREE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE SPEED EXCEEDED MORE THEN 60 MPH. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. DURING THE CRASH, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, LEGS AND ARMS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, FACE AND EYE, BACK AND LEGS. BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MANUFACTURER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 272,000.

NHTSA ID

11207221

Incident

Sep 15, 2017

Mileage

272,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, A RATHER BUSY STREET TRYING TO STOP. THE LEXUS WOULD NOT STOP, DUE TO THE STRUTS AND MOUNTS ARE BROKEN. WHICH I LEARNED FROM SEARS AUTOMOTIVE. THE DEFECTS INTERFERE WITH CAR OVERALL ABILITY TO STOP PROPERLY, IT ALSO SWAYS OVER INTO THE OPPOSITE LANES. BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP PROPERLY, I WAS REAR ENDED, BY ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS GOING ABOUT 35-45 MILES PER HOUR. THE DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. I NOW HAVE SEVERE BACK AND HEAD PAINS.

NHTSA ID

10840065

Incident

Feb 25, 2016

FAILED BRAKE BOOSTER MOTOR FOR MASTER CYLINDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10452748

Incident

Mar 23, 2012

Mileage

121,450 mi

LEXUS STUCK PEDAL--I DRIVE A 1998 LEXUS GS400 WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT IT, I'D PRESSED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN("FLOORED IT") MANY TIMES AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. HOWEVER IN MORE RECENT YEARS, I RARELY "FLOORED IT" . ONE TIME LAST SUMMER, I PUSHED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO PASS A CAR AND THE PEDAL STUCK. MY CAR ACCELERATED FROM 35MPH TO 70MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS ON A LOCAL ROAD. I HIT THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES BUT IT KEPT SPEEDING UP. I WAS ABLE TO PRY UP THE PEDAL UP WITH MY TOE AVERTING A NEAR-ACCIDENT. THIS WAS BEFORE ALL OF THE NEWS WITH TOYOTA'S SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAME TO LIGHT. I DIDN'T TAKE THE CAR INTO THE LOCAL LEXUS SHOP BECAUSE, THEY CHARGE AT LEAST $2000 EVERYTIME I TAKE IT IN. I DROVE THE CAR FOR ANOTHER YEAR BUT MADE SURE NOT TO PRESS THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN. HOWEVER, I AM INTENDING ON TRADING IN THE CAR NOW AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DEFECT IS FIXED BECAUSE ANY FUTURE OWNERS OF THIS CAR WILL NOT BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD WAITING TO HAPPEN. I WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE GOVERNMENT BEFORE TAKING IT IN BECAUSE (A) I WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO BE AWARE THAT LEXUS(NOT JUST TOYOTAS) HAS THIS PROBLEM OF STUCK PEDAL/ACCELERATION (B) IN CASE THE GOV WANTED TO CONDUCT ANY INVESTIGATION WITH MY VEHICLE REGARDING THE STUCK PEDAL FOR EVIDENCE OR RESEARCH BEFORE LEXUS DOES ANYTHING WITH IT(IT DID NOT INVOLVE A FLOORMAT-THE PEDAL JUST STUCK AND DIDN'T COME BACK UP AFTER I RELEASED MY FOOT) (C) COMPEL LEXUS TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT BEFORE SELLING IT TO A FUTURE OWNER. I FEEL THIS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DO EXTENSIVE RESEARCH REGARDING THIS MATTER. LEXUS HAS MANAGED TO STAY OUT OF TOYOTA'S RECENT CULPABILITY ISSUES, BUT CERTAINLY MY LEXUS HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. YOU MAY ALSO WANT ENGINEERS TO EXAMINE MY PEDAL FOR MORE RESEARCH OR EVEN EVIDENCE AS TO WHY THIS OCCURS IN LEXUS/ TOYOTA VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332417

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE WAS DRIVING 15 MPH ONTO A RAMP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND AS HE DEPRESSED HIS BRAKES THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND REAR ENDED A TRUCK PUSHING HIM INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE TWO OTHER OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WITH MINOR INJURIES TO THEIR KNEES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,867. UPDATED 04/13/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/22/10

NHTSA ID

10313693

Incident

Oct 9, 2009

Mileage

184,867 mi

SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF 1998 LEXUS GS400 ONCE ON JAN. 16,1999 WITH NO DAMAGE. I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE. A SECOND TIME ON JAN. 1, 2001. I WAS PULLING UP TO A GAS PUMP AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE CURB AT THE PUMP AND ALSO HIT THE PUMP. BOTH INCIDENTS REPORTED TO DEALER, BUT WERE TREATED AS DRIVER ERROR. SECOND INCIDENT CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PUMP AND MODERATE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. I AM REPORTING THIS AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN NO REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON TOYOTA VEHICLES AS FAR BACK AS 1998. I CURRENTLY OWN A 2007 LEXUS GS350 WITH 15K MILES AND A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WITH 26K MILES AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH EITHER CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310627

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

1998 LEXUS GS400 WITH BALL JOINT FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT DUE TO THE BALL JOINT FAILURE. HE SENT THE BALL JOINT TO LEXUS FOR INSPECTION. *KB

NHTSA ID

10223941

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS 400. WHILE DRIVING 17MPH IN A PARKING LOT, HIS FOOT ACCIDENTALLY SLIPPED CAUSING HIM TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE SEAT BELT NEVER LOCKED AND CAUSED THE CONTACTS CHEST TO SLAM INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN INTO THE SEAT. THE ENGINE SIZE AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS CONFIRMED BUT IS LISTED AS INVALID.

NHTSA ID

10205292

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

96,000 mi

22 SETS OF TIRES WORN OUT ON THE FRONT. I HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A BUILDING--THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN ME BE CAUSE OF SLACK AND THE DECEPTION/FRAUD OF LEXEUS PO005-1. YOU HAVE TO MAKE A "SPECIFIC COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BELTS" OR THEY ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. PO005-1 HAS BEED WITH HELD FROM THE PUBLIC. LEXUS IS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO COVERUP THE TB. WE HAVE OVER 250,000 VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH OUT THE PO005-1 NOT BEING . *TR

NHTSA ID

10203351

Incident

Mar 18, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

SAFETY ON VALENTINS DAY 1998, I PURCHASED A NEW 1998 GS 400 IN AUSTIN TEXAS. WHILE I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE NHTSA FOR INFORMATION (FULL PROFESSOR). ON YOUR TB PAGE I FOUND OUT THAT THE VSC( COMPUTER WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE JAPANEASE MARKET BEFORE JANUARY. A NON-COMPLIANCE FIX PLAN TO NHTSA IN MARCH. I ALSO FOUND THE DOCUMENT THAT STATES "TOYOTA WAS TO FAULT FOR THE BAD YAW CONTROL" AND THAT THEY PLANNED TO FIX THE COMPUTERS CAUSE THEY MIGHT CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AT NO TIME DURING THE RECALL PROCESS WAS I EVER AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. AS A COL I MAKE MANY TRIPS ON FORT HOOD TEXAS WHICH HAS OVER 37,000 RADONS OF WHICH 8,000 ARE IN USE EVERY DAY. MOST OF THE RADIOS ARE SINGARS (FREQUENCY HOPPERS). ON AT LEAST 6 OR MORE TIME THE VSC YELLOW LIGHT CAME ON TURING THE SYSTEM OFF AND THEN IT WOULD COME BACK ON. IN THE AERA I LIVE IN, GARAGE DOORS AND CLOCKS, TV'S ARE SUBJECT TO COME ON BECAUSE OF MILITARY RADIOS. I HAD FULL CONFIDENCE IN LEXUS ABOUT BEING SAFE. I THINK THEY WERE MISSREPRESENTING AND NEGLEGNCE IN NOT TELLING ME.

NHTSA ID

10133988

Incident

Feb 21, 1998

Mileage

6,000 mi

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS RETRACTOR FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10113378

Incident

Mar 3, 2005

Mileage

96,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101069

Incident

Oct 31, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10099979

Incident

Nov 9, 2004

Mileage

85,000 mi

ON THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED MY LEXUS IN VIRGINIA I ALMOST DROVE THE CAR OVER THE CURB. I THOUGHT MY FOOT HIT THE GAS ACCIDENTALLY, BUT IT HAD NOT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHILE I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. LUCKILY THE PROBLEM NEVER CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SO I NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM. I READ A RECENT ARTICLE IN USATODAY ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE DOING IT. MY 1998 LEXUS GS400 HAS LURCHED FORWARD SEVERAL TIMES WHILE MY FOOT WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068519

Incident

Oct 1, 2001

Mileage

45,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD ON COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10061323

Mileage

78,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH, HAD A FRONT COLLISION AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, NO AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING PRIOR TO THE CRASH. DRIVER WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

NHTSA ID

10048397

Incident

Nov 20, 2003

Mileage

72,000 mi

PRODUCT DEFECT WHEN THE LEXUS GS400 HIT HEAD ON A CONCRETE ANTI-TERRORIST RESTRAIN T BETWEEN 40-50 MILES A HR. SPEED COULD HAVE BEEN FASTER ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP CAUSE THE ENGINE WAS KNOWED OF ITS MOUNTINGS, HAND BREAK HANDLE BROKE AND TURNED 90+ DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE COIN CHANGE CLOSED CONTAINER BROKE OPEN AND CRACKED AS IT THROUGH ITS CONTENTS ALL OVER THE DRIVERS AREA. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE I WAS THROWN WITH FULL FORCE AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH HIT ME DIRECTLY IN THE STERNUM CAUSING BLUNT CONTUSION TO THE RIB CAGE AND STERNUM. THE PAIN CAUSE IS GREATER THAN A KIDNEY STONE AND IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS A GO. *LA

NHTSA ID

10046906

Incident

Oct 31, 2003

Mileage

71,980 mi

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30 MPH, UPON IMPACT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVER.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

8003649

Incident

Jan 24, 2002

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY I STARTED NOTICING THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY....AFTER FINDING THE NEAREST EXIT A PASSENGER FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE INFORMED ME THAT MY TIRE WAS FLAT...WHEN I PULLED OVER I NOTICED THAT THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT....THE TIRE INSPECTOR CHECKED THE TIRE AND FOUND SEVERAL AIR POCKETS ....HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TIRE WAS SHREADED SEVERELY AND HAD A LOTS OF TIRE PIECES (DUST) IN THE INSIDE....HE ALSO WENT AS FAR AS TO SAY THAT THE TIRE LOOKED AS IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN COOKING INSIDE OF IT...THE TIRE LOOKED AS IF IT HAD BEEN AT LEAST 3 YEARS OLD NOT 1 MONTH. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235/45R17)

NHTSA ID

757173

Incident

Dec 31, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

751775

Incident

Dec 26, 2000

CRASHED INTO REAR OF ANOTHER CAR AT 30-50 MPH, AIR BAGS DID INTO DEPLOY. *NLM *SCC **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734324

NHTSA ID

10007022

Incident

Oct 13, 2000

Mileage

21,500 mi

CRASHED INTO REAR OF ANOTHER CAR AT 30-50MPH; AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

734324

Incident

Oct 13, 2000

TRUNK LID WILL NOT STAY UP. LID WILL FALL DOWN AND HIT HEAD . NO CURE FROM DEALER.

NHTSA ID

733078

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

DOOR SWITCH, SEAT BELT, AND STEERING SHIM FAILURE. OTHER FAILURES INCLUDE PROBLEMS WITH SECURITY SYSTEM, A/C AND STEREO CONTROLLERS FAILED, CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND TRUNK RELEASE FAILED, WINDOWS SLOW TO RETRACT.

NHTSA ID

609455

DOOR SWITCH.

NHTSA ID

609183

Incident

Aug 1, 1998